It's almost nightfall. , the latest chapter of the visit wèn:.

The Duke's palace was already lit up to welcome the New Year's feast.

Since the afternoon, guests have been arriving from all corners of Paris for tonight's banquet.

According to tradition, the feast will be an all-night stretch and an important part of the New Year's festivities in Paris's social circles – presumably, by tomorrow you will be able to see a full page of coverage in the social and social news of many newspapers.

Although due to the recent political trend, there are many fewer people who come to the Duke's Palace to attend banquets than in previous years, but there is still an endless stream. In the splendid hall, men* in magnificent costumes shuttle through it, and the jewels emitted by the ornaments and medals are 'intertwined' with the candlelight, and the stabbing people can hardly shake their eyes.

Ah, that's a hassle......

In the midst of the uproar, the Duke de Kerson, dressed in a gown and wearing a medal of honor, sighed to himself.

There are always so many people who come to greet them, and everyone has to deal with at least one sentence.

It's too much trouble.

In order not to let people show his tiredness and boredom, he lowered his gaze in despair.

In the midst of the hustle and bustle, this middle-aged man with a short golden 'color' was expressionless, as if he was not interested in this qiē at all.

"What's wrong with you, Charles?" Duchess Charlotte, who was holding his hand next to her, asked with concern.

"Charles may be a little tired, right? After all, there are so many things to deal with lately......" It was Charlotte's brother, the Duke's cousin, Eugène, who had been standing next to her all the time. "Hey, it's been so hard."

"Who's to say it isn't!" Charlotte glanced at her husband distressedly, and then couldn't help but feel a wave of anger on her face, "I will always remember this shame, Eugène." ”

"Well, we Treville will never forgive." In order to echo his sister, Ou Ren also nodded solemnly and replied in a low voice.

However, the charr next to them, as if he still didn't hear, just looked silently.

"Charles, you have something to say!" Charlotte tugged at the duke's hand.

The Duke then turned his gaze back to his wife, and then smiled apologetically at her disgusted look. "Sorry, Charlotte, I was just thinking about something."

"You always have so many things to think about, isn't it enough to have so much time to think about them? Let's be happy today......" Charlotte's tone was half reproachful, half concern, "Eugène has been talking to me for a while, so you can say a few words to him." ”

"Okay, okay." Charles smiled and responded, then turned his head to look at this cousin with eyebrows somewhat similar to his own, "Eugène, you've been doing a good job in the navy lately, aren't you?" ”

"Accept your affection, you did a good job, and your colleagues are quite compatible." Eugène shrugged his shoulders, "But there are a lot fewer people coming to me to play now...... I'm happy to be idle. ”

"Hmph, a bunch of villains who tend to be inflammatory!" Charlotte frowned.

"Needless to say, people have to worry about their future." Charles shook his head, "It's normal to distance myself from you now, don't mind. ”

"Oh, of course, I won't mind, the shape is stronger than the human, what can I do?" Eugène smiled, then looked around cautiously, and then came a little closer, and whispered next to Charles, "Actually, there are many people who have 'privately' expressed their dissatisfaction with His Majesty to me, and he is too favoritist to the navy. ”

"Oh, really?" Charles only raised his eyebrows and did not comment further.

Recently, the Empire's finances have been tightened, and the original naval expansion plan can only be abruptly terminated, and it is even necessary to cut some naval military spending, and Charles can certainly understand His Majesty's approach.

However, understanding is understanding, and this does not prevent him from using this to attract supporters from the navy.

"We're all going to be in Austria for a while, so you can't ask us for everything, so let's talk to Dad about everything." Charlotte told her brother beside her, "You have to be more serious in the future, don't be so unorthodox all the time!" Let's get married early, and don't worry about ......"

"Ah, I know, sister. Don't say it, I will be more serious in the future......" Being nagged by his sister so much on such an occasion, Ou Ren couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed while being moved, feeling that no matter what age he is, he is just a child in the eyes of his sister, "Don't worry, I won't live in the local area anymore." ”

"No, live your life the way you want, Eugène." Charles suddenly patted him on the shoulder, "There are some things, you don't have to force yourself to take on some things, just do what you can, we have a way to deal with it." ”

"Charles!" Charlotte took her husband's hand reproachfully.

However, Eugène looked at his cousin's smile and suddenly felt a sense of relief.

That's right, how can this kind of Cheng dù's political 'tide' be able to knock down this brother? His heart was also suddenly relieved, and then he nodded emphatically.

Then he looked at Charlotte again, his eyes full of concern. "Sister, you better stay in Paris, what's the good of going to a place like Vienna? The 'social' field here is right for you, right? Besides, now that the relationship between our country and Austria is at its lowest ebb, you will probably have to eat behind closed doors there, and those people will not entertain you, so how boring you must be......"

"Don't worry about me, I've decided. Prince von Metternich is a good friend of ours, and although he is now ambassador to France, he has many friends in Vienna, who are taken care of and will not turn us away. Even Franz-Joseph himself, can he ignore the interests of his country and keep us at bay? No, he's not that stupid...... Although he is stupid enough. Charlotte smiled and replied, "Besides, Charles is my husband, and I should share his ups and downs, even if I am coldly treated, what is it?" You'd better mind yourselves, friend. ”

"Oh, oh...... All right. Since his sister said so, Ou Ren didn't dare to say anything more, so he had to nod, "Then I wish you all a smooth journey." ”

"Okay, let's stop talking about this kind of boring thing, today is a rare good day, you just have fun and welcome the New Year happily." Charles said, smiling malice, "Isn't your sister very concerned about your personal affairs?" There are so many young ladies here today, you can pick one from them, and if there is a favorite object, we can all say something for you when the time comes......"

As he grows older, this middle-aged man has lost his interest in 'showing up' on 'social' occasions and becoming the focus of attention, however, today's event can't be avoided.

Not to mention the important 'sex' of the New Year's banquet itself, he didn't want to show weakness in front of his own party members and enemies, and even the emperor, so he showed a little bit of mental strength.

Because of this, he had to be 'spirited'.

True, it was a fight that was destined to begin, full of hardships and perhaps dangers, but he took it in stride and with confidence. It was precisely because of this that he deliberately expressed Xiàn so easily.

This leisurely demeanor was intended to make it so that all who were present, whether staunch followers or wavering observers, could see that the Duke of de Kerson was still standing on the horizon and ready to rise at any time, despite the heavy blow.

But Charles didn't expect that his words would suddenly arouse anger in the heart of the lady.

Charlotte's eyes suddenly became very unkind when she looked at Charles, "What? Do you want my brother to learn from you? Don't teach others badly, okay? ”

Charles's reluctance just now was replaced by embarrassment, he looked at Charlotte with a sneer, and waved her hand flatteringly, "Ouch, Charlotte, I'm just kidding......"

"Hmph, what's the joke? You're not ...... yet" Charlotte was about to say something, when suddenly she saw a 'woman' who had just walked in through the 'door'.

The 'woman' wore a rather conservative and simple gray 'colored' skirt, and she wore no ornaments on her body, but she looked so calm and indifferent that she seemed to have nothing to do with poverty. Although she looks to be about thirty years old, her face is white and red, and she obviously does not haunt the social 'social' world too much, so that she can still preserve such deliciousness. What's even more unusual is that she wears glasses on the bridge of her nose, which makes people feel a kind of intellectual 'sexuality' and quiet temperament.

When she saw the Duke's wife, she put a heartfelt smile on her face, and then bowed respectfully to the two men.

Charlotte's face froze at first, but she still managed to put on a smile and nodded at her slightly.

However, when the 'woman' blended into the ranks of the guests without a trace, another person walked into the hall, another 'woman'.

As if she was singing against the 'woman' just now, this 'woman' had a completely different breath from head to toe. She is dressed luxuriously, with dark gold 'color' lines faintly shining in the white 'color' gauze skirt, and wearing a rose-shaped diamond 'chest' ornament in front of her 'chest', which looks extravagant 'forced'. Coupled with the high bun and the expressionless pale face, the whole person looked almost like a doll, and this domineering attitude made the guests who saw her stunned, and then immediately turned to talk to her, not daring to talk to her—and she did not seem to feel sorry for it at all.

When she saw the duke's wife, she just raised her eyebrows lightly and said hello, and then walked to the side, not paying any attention to the courtesy, as if she was used to doing her own thing.

Charlotte frowned slightly.

This arrogant and impudent man once again 'stirred' the anger in her heart.

However, she knew that now was not the time for temper - first, it was an occasion of celebration, and with so many guests, she could not show that she had to lose her image; Second, no matter what they are, but now the family also needs to show the world the friendship between the Tréville family, the Dillieon family, and the Beauwang family, so as not to cause people to have terrible political misunderstandings.

Because of this, she took a deep breath and regained her apparent calm. Finally, she turned her head and looked at Charles coldly.

"Look-look-you-do-good-......"

Her blue eyes were full of fierce light, and she stared at her husband viciously, as if with a kind of ominous omen, "I'll clean you up after tonight."

This kind of look made even the younger brother next to him feel a chill.

Eugène bit his lip and slowly stepped back, trying to get out of his sister's rage without a trace.

Soon, however, the pleading sight of his brother-in-law and cousin came to him, as if begging him not to run away. Eugène sighed inwardly, then stopped.

Hey, that's self-inflicted.

"Charlotte, Lolot, Lolot, don't do this...... So many people are watching! Seeing that Eugène was still beside him, Charles's heart finally felt a little more confident, and then he was bold and gently stroked Charlotte's hand, "Isn't there no way today?" Don't be angry, okay? ”

After a moment of coaxing by Charles, Charlotte's eyes finally became a little kinder.

"You bastard! I can't wait to strangle you! She gave Charles a cold look, then looked away.

Charles, who had escaped the catastrophe, finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and then met Eugène's eyes with envy and sympathy at the same time.

He pursed the corners of his lips reluctantly, and then pulled his wife to the guests.

He walked up to the wife of General Lucien de Lefleur, dressed in military uniform. The general, his sister Matilda, also stood next to the couple.

"Lucien, I think you're 'very' busy these days!" He greeted Lucien with a smile, then inadvertently glanced at Matilda. "Why, now that they're all celebrities, are you still willing to come to me to see the light?"

"Charles, where are you...... We've always been friends. Lucien did not hear Charles's ridicule, but replied earnestly, "No matter how the situation changes, it is true." ”

At this moment, Matilda also showed Charles's eyes, and then smiled slightly.

"Oh, that's so pleasing to me!" Charles let out a long sigh, not knowing whether to speak to Lucien or Matilda.

"Matilda, how are you doing?" Just then, Charlotte suddenly greeted Matilda.

For a moment, Matilda was as startled as the others, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Madam, I'm fine, thank you for your concern." Matilda nodded at Charlotte again, "I hope you're doing well." ”

"Thank you." Charlotte's expression was very calm, "Is your nephew okay?" I heard that you have been carrying it all along? ”

Her tone was very flat, except for the accent on the word "nephew".

“…… Hmmm......" A slight flush suddenly hit Matilda's white face, making her almost speechless for a moment, but she quickly calmed down, "He's fine, I'm sorry for bothering you too much." ”

"Hey, what do you mean, ma'am?" Seeing that her sister was in embarrassment, the general's wife next to her immediately spoke, "It was because I saw that you were so unhappy now that Matilda came to visit you with a 'spirit' spirit, and as a result, you entertained her like this?" ”

This implicit reproach made Charlotte stiffen.

Charles and Lucien were not in a good mood, and then each exchanged a frightened look, and then Charles made a slight gesture.

Lucien understood and hurriedly pulled his wife to the other side, saving her from making the atmosphere more 'intense'.

Julie was reluctant at first, but under her husband's persuasive eyes, she still followed her husband away, but when she left, she still gave the duke's wife a look and warned them not to bully their sister.

The three of them fell into an awkward silence at once.

"I'm sorry, Matilda......" After a long silence, Charlotte suddenly said, "I may have been a little 'excited' just now. ”

"It's okay, it's nothing." Matilda still had that gentle smile on her face, "I can understand your feelings, I won't be happy if I change you......"

"Okay, in that case, let's stop standing and talking, let's just go have a drink, shall we?" Seeing that the shape had eased up, Xia Er hurriedly mentioned to them, "Drink something, it will help you digest......

He sneered, but did not get a response from the other two people, and at the same time 'shot' the gaze that was projected at him, so that he almost had a feeling of shamelessness, so he had to lower his head and no longer dare to say a word.

"Matilda, well, we won't talk about these things in such a day," after a moment of silence, Charlotte reopened, "Well, as you know, we are going to Austria in a while, and many things will be entrusted to you by then, so please take care of yourself." ”

"Well, I know, don't worry." Matilda smiled and nodded, "I'll do my best, and even if you're not here, there won't be any problems here." ”

"Thank you then." Charlotte nodded slightly.

“…… So, why not thank me? Duchess de Kerson? At this moment, a sentence suddenly drifted into the ears of the three people. It seems that I have also helped your husband and wife a lot, right? ”

The voice was crisp, but there was an indescribable arrogance.

As soon as Charles heard the voice, he felt that it was not good, and quickly looked back.

Sure enough, it was Lola. His heart sank.

Then, he glared at Lola, trying to get her out of trouble. But as if she didn't see his eyes, Lola walked straight over.

This 'girl' in gorgeous clothes brought an absolutely bad feeling to the other two 'women'.

"I'm chatting with her right now, what are you arguing about?" Charlotte's face froze again, and she tightened Charles' hand as well. "Don't you understand this etiquette?"

"But it seems to me that I'm also a guest, so why can't I have a chat with the host?" Although her expression was repulsive, Lola was completely unmoved, "Did you say yes?" Madam? ”

"Even if it's a guest, there are popular and unpopular, I think even with your little bit of sophistication, I'm afraid you should understand this truth, right?" Charlotte sneered, "Or is this too much for you?" ”

Lola's face, which was already expressionless, seemed to be even whiter at this time.

Charlotte could have some respect for Matilda, but for this former Baroness who was as arrogant as she was, if not surpassed, there was a disgust hidden in her nature, so much so that it was impossible to ease the atmosphere a little.

On Lola's side, she naturally has no good impression of Charlotte, who has always regarded herself as a duchess and looks down on her background, and has never given her a half-step. Today, the two of them have come to such a point, which is naturally logical.

Just as Charles was about to say something to lighten the mood, Lola burst out laughing—though she didn't know if such a smile with the corners of her mouth twitching slightly could be called a laugh.

"Not popular? That was a strange thing, and I thought the Duke would welcome me...... When he came to me before Christmas, I was well entertained......"

Charlotte immediately looked into Charles' face.

"Lola!" Seeing this, Matilda hurriedly shouted in a low voice, "Don't be like this, okay?" On a day like today, why should we quarrel? ”

"That's what she provoked me first, I just came to see you, who told her to put on a score like that from the beginning." Lola frowned slightly, "You are afraid of the tail, even your own children dare to be a sister, but I am not afraid of her ......"

After hearing this, Matilda froze, and her face suddenly turned pale. "Do you think it's scared? Who would be like you? I don't understand what right you have to accuse me? ”

"Sure enough, the offspring of the uneducated......" Charlotte glared at Lola as well.

It's not good, I'm going to quarrel again when I see it.

Charles turned his heart aside.

"Enough!" The tired middle-aged man reached out to support his forehead, "You guys are really, usually forget it, don't let me take a break when it's so difficult, and you have to be noisy, and you have to be noisy...... Do you have to be happy to see me stepped into the mud? Do you have to let everyone be finished? ”

While secretly changing the concept to calm the situation, he pulled Charlotte away. "Today, only today, I beg you to stop arguing, okay? At least it allows me to think quietly about what I should do next year! ”

Under Charles's seemingly justified rebuke, the other three also relented, barely regaining their composure.

Lola and Matilda watched the duchess leave, then looked at each other, then stopped talking, and turned away.

"Charlotte, I'm sorry," Charles squeezed Charlotte's hand as he walked. "But don't make a mess today, okay? A lot of people are watching it, and the impact is too great. ”

"............" Charlotte opened her mouth, as if to say something.

Because the volume was too low, Charles hurriedly leaned over his ears to listen.

And then......

Charlotte's left hand suddenly grabbed Charles's ear with such force that it seemed to rip his ear off.

"Ahh Charles let out a painful snort, then quickly closed his mouth and let out a whine.

I don't know how long it took, but it didn't seem like the ear was already unconscious, and the hand let go.

"I'll clean you up when I get back!" Charlotte let go of her grip on Charles and walked straight into the hall.

Charles had been left in the corner by a man, his ears already red, and he was still aching violently.

He looked up, and then he saw his cousin Eugène, who was looking at him with sympathy.

Then, with a gesture, he called his cousin over.

"Does it still hurt, man?" Eugène walked up to Charles and asked, half concerned and half gloating.

"It's okay, brother, that's all it takes." Charles let out a long sigh, and then, lowering his voice.

"Wait a minute, you go and tell Lucien to find a way to keep Matilda, and then you go and pester Lola and tell her not to leave."

"Okay." Eugène nodded, then turned to leave.

……………………

Leaving Charles behind, Charlotte walked towards the center of the hall full of resentment, filled with unspeakable anger at her husband.

What shall I do with him later?

Just as she was thinking this, there was a sudden commotion in the hall.

She turned her head to look at the 'door'.

It turned out that there were new guests - two to be exact.

The two golden-colored 'women', both dressed up, walked towards the center of the hall step by step.

One was wearing a black 'color' skirt, looking at the person next to her with concern, smiling and greeting from time to time, while the other was wearing a luxurious court dress and was looking at Yi Qiē in front of her with blue 'color' eyes, as if she was the master of this place.

And the guests, making way for them. Just as in the book of Exodus, when the sea suddenly parted on both sides, these nobles quickly lined up on both sides, making way for the sudden and famous 'woman' de Treville, a road full of medals and jewels, which was laid out before her as if to welcome a queen.

At the ends of the two columns of human walls, two golden-eyed 'women' looked at each other.

This slightly cold atmosphere soon infected the guests in the hall, and the people also stopped the noise, and then looked at each other, passing on to each other that could only be understood and indescribable.

- Oh, the rumor that the Duchess of Kerson and her sister-in-law are very unpleasant, and it seems that it is true.

What will happen to them? Do you want to quarrel now?

If you quarrel in front of everyone, it can become the best social 'communication' news for the New Year...... Almost everyone, with malicious or not-so-bad malice, is looking forward to it.

Maybe it was a long time, maybe not long after, and the three hour hands of the huge floor-to-ceiling quartz clock encrusted with gems in the corner of the hall coincided.

Knock, knock, knock

New Year's bells ring at any time.

Ah, it's a new year again!

With the crisp sound of the bell, Fran smiled slightly, and then bowed slightly to her cousin.

"Happy New Year, ma'am, and I wish you a long and healthy life."

This inorganic smile soon spread to the Duchess who was standing on the other side.

"Happy New Year, 'female' gentleman." She smiled all over her face, but there was no smile in her eyes, "I'm so happy to see you still so beautiful." ”

"Ha-ha-ha, hahaha!" The two laughed almost at the same time.

Laughing, Fran walked forward, slowly walking in front of Charlotte.

At the same time, the living room became noisy again, although almost everyone was a little disappointed.

At this time, Charles also rushed over, and then stood between Charlotte and Fran.

Then he picked up his glass.

He glanced around, and now his cronies and friends, his party members and subordinates, basically came.

Lucien, Albert, Alex, Clément, Plasland Brothers, Conze............ These people are all gathered together, dressed in their own uniforms or fancy clothes, and wearing their own medals.

This is the force that I have spent so many years concentrating.

These are the people I should rely on in order to regain what I deserve......

In his heart, such a sigh swelled up.

What else is there to be afraid of?

I will succeed.

"Happy New Year, everyone! Cheers! ”

"Happy New Year! Cheers. Everyone gave the same answer at the same time, and then raised their glasses.

In this way, several members of the Treville family, as well as their friends, welcomed the New Year of 186o in this luxurious ducal palace.

………………

The banquet continued into the night, and almost everyone drank a lot.

However, no matter how warm the banquet is, there will be a moment to end, and as time passes, the banquet has come to an end.

Gradually, the guests bid farewell to their hosts, first those who did not know each other, then friends, and finally even Albert and Lucien.

And just as Charles had expected, Lola and Matilda stayed. And Fran and Mary, who had been chatting with them all the time, also stayed under Charles's care.

Although they are already a little tired, it seems that the 'spirit' is still passing.

"Great." Charles nodded.

"What else do you want to do?" Charlotte looked at Charles disapprovingly. "The banquet is over, aren't you sending off the guests?"

Seeing that Charlotte was about to soar again, Charles hurriedly glanced at Eugène in the corner.

"Sister, I have a treasure I want to give you." His cousin faithfully stepped forward and drew her attention.

"What?"

"That thing is called a camera!" Eren used an exaggerated tone as if offering a treasure, "This is a good thing, you can take pictures of people and objects, and it is more realistic than a painting!" ”

To add to his convincingness, he threw a stack of photos on the table, "Look! ”

At this time, the camera and the camera technique were still quite crude, and even for these people, it was a completely new thing - if it weren't for Charles's ideas to improve it, I am afraid it would have been even rougher.

Attracted by the photo, the 'women' all walked to the table, and then each picked up a photo and looked at it.

"Really!" Charlotte looked at the photo and exclaimed, "Isn't this our home?" Daddy was in there too. ”

"It's strange...... "Fran also sighed, "how did this happen, it feels more 'fine' than painting, everything is stored in it, although it loses its sense of art, but ...... It's really interesting. ”

"yes, that's a strange thing."

"Interesting, I'll try one too."

These 'women' who have become mature because of their age, driven by curiosity, have actually returned to the style of the young 'women' era in a trance. Because they had obtained such a strange thing, the jealousy and resentment that had been accumulated for a long time seemed to take a step, and each looked at the photo, and marveled from time to time.

"That's right! A camera is one such good thing that can keep a qiē in a photo. Charles next to him smiled and nodded, "Don't be so curious, we can try it now, just take a picture here." ”

"...... we?" Fran frowned, then looked at Guri's strange camera with apprehension, "It can't have any strange effect, right?" ”

"Nothing, don't be afraid." Charles shook his head.

"Wait, you mean ......" Charlotte suddenly frowned and reacted, "Let's take a picture together?" ”

"Yes, Charlotte, it's my heart's desire." Charles looked at Madame sincerely, then at the others, "It can freeze a moment into eternity, and finally into an unforgettable memory." I hope that you will be able to keep this photo today, so that I can go to Austria with peace of mind. ”

At first, Charlotte frowned, as if she was a little reluctant, but in the end, she relented under Charles's eyes, and nodded gently, "Okay, if you like it, take a picture, but send it away after shooting, it's not early!" ”

Fran and Mary looked at each other for a moment, then didn't speak, just nodded slightly, agreeing with Charles's suggestion.

"Solidify a moment into an eternity, and finally into an unforgettable memory......" Matilda muttered repeated, then looked up at Charles, and smiled slightly, "Yes, sir, gladly accompanied." ”

In the end, there was only one person left.

"I'm not obligated to accompany you, am I? Mr? Lola still didn't have any expression on her face.

"But I beg of you, grant this humble wish of mine." Charles nodded.

"Well, then, I'll make you happy for once." Lola nodded.

Then, in the glorious candlelight, the six men sat or stood, gathered together.

Eugène, on the other hand, stood in front of the camera, looking at the few people in front of him seriously.

"Ready? I'll count to three! ”

"Three ......"

With an inexplicable sense of tension, everyone took a deep breath.

"Two ......"

Gradually, everyone regained their composure, as if they wanted to make Charles happy before he left for Austria, Matilda, Mary, and Fran all smiled, and Lola, the corners of her mouth moved imperceptibly.

At this time, Charles suddenly seemed to feel a strange feeling.

I haven't felt it in years!

He felt a 'stir' in his heart.

Then, tremblingly, he picked up his right hand and made a "scissors" gesture.

"One!"

Almost at the same moment, with a mischievous smile, Charles also shouted loudly, "Eggplant! ”

"Smack!" The spotlight made a crisp noise.

May this moment be eternal. p――4666o+dsuaahhh+25461537――>

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